Topographical Maps

Maps form an important part of class 10 ICSE Geography syllabus. Among the different maps that a student is expected to comprehend and solve are Topographical maps or Topography sheets. Topography maps are different than normal political or physical maps. The major area of difference lies in its predominance with symbol. Normal maps are representational in nature whereas topographical maps are symbolic ones.

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Maps are anyhow reduced representation of the real world and thus without some kind of symbol it is impossible to represent the real objects on paper. For a student taking the ICSE examination it is vital to understand the symbols well. A topography map is a combination of shapes and colors which are symbols themselves. For example, different colors define different type of land forms. A green colored area normally represents forest land. Yellow areas stand for cultivable lands and brown for hilly areas. Again some maps may have yellow for deserts. So how does a student make out these symbols?
Apparently these symbols are incomprehensible. If we look at these symbols individually often a student might not be able to decipher them correctly. To continue the above example, color yellow can represent desert or agricultural land and the particular land in question must be judged on the basis of the other features or symbols around it. So if there are no wells, tube wells, rivers or any other water body near the yellow marked land, a student can safely say that it is not an agricultural land because farmlands would also require water for irrigation. There are numerous symbols for physical features of land, transportation, vegetation, population, man-made structures, boundaries, water bodies, marine landscape and various others. Each segment includes hundreds of symbols. Correct interpretation of the important symbols along with association with other symbols is sufficient to find the right answer for the topography questions.
Detailing is the key for making as well as interpreting topographical maps in ICSE Geography. For the uninitiated this is impossible to decipher. But with some practice it can be found out that these circles represent the depth or the height of that part of the land. And the numbers beside the concentrating circle are actually the height of the land and this will in turn help the student to decipher the type of land in question that is flat lands, plateaus, hills or marshy lands.

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Globes

If your child is struggling to learn geography in school, there is hope to helping him get on track with his studies. Just turn to globes. Really, globes are fabulous educational tools for teaching your child about all the important places on the planet. This is made possible because globes are 3D representations of the earth. Pointing out all those spots, like bodies of water, continents, and countries, is a breeze since all you have to do is spin the globe around and your there. What's also great about this fixture is that your child gains a great understanding of his location and where he's at in relation to other parts of the world. Like, if you're family lives in Idaho and he's learning about a country in Asia, he will see that it is halfway around the world.
There are even globes that make learning fun because you can get ones that light up and others that are raised relief. They allow you to put an interesting twist on the lesson. For example, you could teach your child about the different countries in the world in the dark since the globe can illuminate the whole room. The ones that are raised relief actually have bumps on them, so your child can see and feel the difference in elevation, which is pretty neat when you're trying to keep them focused and on task.
Along with being a practical educational tool, globes also have an attractive quality to them. Well, it is because they are made out of stunning materials that create globes that are extremely pleasing to the eye. For instance, the raised relief globes are generally crafted from wood that has a lovely cream base, which is then has the world detailing screen printed right on them.
Or, you can get others that are made out of beautiful gemstones, yes, gemstones, the same stones that are used to make jewelry. What also adds to a globe's beauty is how it can be mounted on other gorgeous materials. Like, wood that feature different finishes along with metals like silver and gold.
When it comes down to it, there are just a lot of different globes to choose from and for an easy way to check them all out, just hit the internet for some online shopping. Talk about being convenient since you didn't even have to step outside of your home to get what you wanted.
So, if your child is struggling with geography in school, help him out at home with classic globes. They are a great educational tool and a sure fire way to make sure he gets back on track in the classroom.

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Help With Geography Homework

Do you find yourself wondering how to complete your geography homework? Are you a parent wondering how to help your children with their geography homework?
Schools seem to be setting more and more homework on topics that were rarely covered only a few years ago, leaving students with a lack of accessible help.
As a teacher with ten years experience I find more and more parents coming to me expressing variations on these problems. The answer I always give them is to spend time together. If the homework needing to be completed is about villages, go outside and look around the village together. Talking openly about what things you both know about the homework topic in general and what things you both want to find out is always a good starting point. It can allow you both to discover a good 'working' relationship.
The adult needs to listen carefully and then supply what knowledge they have. A parent without any schooling after 16 will know a huge amount about the world in general and this is an important resource that they should not be too scared to offer.
Don't get hurried into finding the 'answer' and also allow yourselves to be taken off topic. At the very least the time you spend together will improve communication and allow for you to both express your ideas and knowledge to each other in the future.

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Homeschool Geography

We hear statistics all the time about how people on the street are asked simple geography questions and aren't able to answer them correctly. We certainly don't want our home school children to be part of those statistics. With the right tools, any child can learn a great deal about the world around them and how it functions. Here are the tools you need to teach home school Geography:

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1. When you hear of countries or places that you haven't heard of before when listening to the news, reading stories or just hearing others talk, get out a good map and find that place with your children. There is no reason to be ignorant of other places in the world when we have some of the best maps available in our country.

2. When going on a trip allow your child to plan the route and find interesting places along the way. Have them keep track of how many miles you travel. This helps your child be more aware of the world around them.

3. Talk about geography terms. When you or your child encounter new words like plateau, delta, or reservoir, find out what they mean. You might even be able to find a picture of this geography term to better understand the definition. Geography is not only about locating places. You can also explore statistics for a certain area, photographs, and type of land in your study of geography.

4. Use the Internet, computer software games, and even board games to teach geography. Games teach a tremendous amount of knowledge, sometimes without the child even knowing it. When competition is involved, many children will do or learn anything to win. Games make learning fun.

5. Get maps and geography tools like atlases and almanacs. Children always want to know where they are on a map. You can start there and point out where other family members live in relation to them. If you go on a long trip, when you get back show them how far you traveled on the globe. Take advantage of the many great resources and ideas and enjoy your exploration of geography. When you are interested in the world around you, your children will catch that interest.

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Geography Bee Preparation

When preparing for a geography bee, students must extend their studies beyond map locations and into relationships or how one area influences another.

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Study Aids for Geography Bee Preparation
Maps
The first tool students need is an up to date world map that clearly defines country borders and includes physical features such as mountain ranges, deserts and other major land features like the Canadian Shield. It is helpful if the map is portable, so for example, if the student sees something on the news or in a movie, they can quickly grab their map and locate the area that is referenced. It is also fun to have some historic maps to compare to modern maps, to see where ancient civilizations were located in relation to modern cities.
Current Events Source of Information
The geography bee will include questions related to current events. Therefore, the student needs access to a world news source. This could include such sources as BBC News Front Page, CNN.com (see World link), WorldNews.com or The World News Connection. Geography Reference Materials
Sources should include statistical data such as population figures including distribution and densities. National Geographic 3D Globe is a good software choice for older students that need quick information on world religions, health, education or other comparative data.
National Geography Standards
These standards, established in 1994 to guide geography course work in the schools, include five major areas and eighteen sub divisions. In brief, these standards require an understanding of the following:
1. The World in Spatial Terms
• Knowing how to use maps
• The ability to organize people, places and environments into spatial terms
• The ability to analyze the spatial organization of people, places and environments
2. Places and Regions
• Physical and Human Characteristics of Places
• That People Create Regions to Interpret Earth's Complexity
• How Culture and Experience Influence Perceptions of Places and Regions
3. Physical Systems
• Physical Processes That Shape the Patterns of Earth's Surface
• Characteristics and Spatial Distribution of Ecosystems
4. Human Systems
• Characteristics, Distribution and Migration of Human Populations
• Characteristics, Distribution and Complexity of Earth's Cultures
• Patterns and Networks of Economic Interdependence on Earth's Surface
• Processes, Patterns and Functions of Human Settlement
5. Environment and Society
• How Human Actions Modify the Physical Environment
• How Physical Systems Affect Human Systems
Nearly every school subject, whether social studies or biology, includes geography related concepts. In fact, geography incorporates so many areas that it is almost impossible to study or memorize everything.
Therefore, kids should strive to succeed in all of their course work especially social studies, government, history and earth science to be successful in geography. For example how an environmental change affected migration patterns, economics and resources, population distribution or political influence.
If the student is planning to compete in the National Geographic sponsored bee, it is a good idea if they regularly visit their website and read the "Kids News" and their "Bee Resources" pages.
In Summary
Geography bees may include many geography related subject areas. To succeed, students must make their map their constant companion as they study current events, world history, social studies and earth science. In addition, once they have mastered their maps they should be able to analyze and organize statistical data into spatial relationships. Lastly, successful geography students are able to see the entire modern and ancient world and its populations in spatial relationships and begin to see the interconnectivity of events.

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